Indiana is finally getting some storms that we needed and we got a decent amount of rain the other day. But I was thinking about what it would be like if we flooded. The rain just continually comes and creates all of this damage and wrecks many lives and destroys homes. I also live by the river. The river flows and does it's thing. There is a purpose to a river. The river flows to a destination and creates a way for people to get somewhere with the current that it provides.
They are both bodies of water but there is a difference - focus. As a leader, the goal is to channel people, time, energy, money to one clear vision. Being in leadership, I can see the value of being like a river. I also see the destruction of being like a flood. Many leaders today act as floods, they have their position and they sit and all it does it create damage. We need to look at our lives as rivers and know what we are trying to accomplish and help lead those around us to that goal.
Not a life update really, just was sparked by a leadership challenge and thought I would share.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Blessed and Encouraged
Passion seems to be a topic that is talked about OFTEN around me and my sphere of people in my life. I work with a guy who is the definition of passion to me. In all he does, he puts his heart into it. I'm always impressed by him and constantly learning from him...maybe I should tell him that. But a couple weeks ago, I met with another junior high pastor and we were just talking about passion. I asked her to pray for me in that area. It's weird, passion seems to have it highs and lows with me. If you know me, I'm a very moody person - wish I could rewire that in my brain. But she asked me what ignites my passion and I told her anytime I'm with the middle school kids, it's there, I leave and just have this energy and passion for what I do. Tonight really ignited some passion for me - which is something I've been praying for and I know some of you have been praying for me in that area, which I am so appreciative of! So thank you. But let me tell you a little about tonight that was pretty cool to me - there were lots of things, but this sticks out.
We have this boy who is handicapped (I think he has severe autism?) The story I got was that he has been to many youth ministries and has never felt accepted and didn't like it. I guess the Bridge was their last hope. Well, he came out a couple months ago and I have these 2 guys leaders that are just AWESOME with these kids (Brady and Landon) and they just clicked with him and made him feel a part of it. I talked with the boy's dad one time and he told me how much he loves it there and loves those guys. Every week he has a behavioral specialist with him and they let me in on stuff about him. They say how he loves to play knock out, but he never gets involved. He likes to go to the corner and just hang by himself, he's pretty tough to talk to. Tonight, he got out of the car and came running down to the court and was talking to me (HUGE!), then he got right into the games without me having to ask him to play (HUGE!), then we go inside and I ask the kids questions that will lead into my message - he put his hand up. His behavioral specialist mouthed the words to me "OH MY GOSH" - he shared something. She told me that is NOT something people with his disability will do. That is not him at all, but something is happening in him. She was almost crying about it because it was that big of a deal.
That reignited some passion for me. To watch a kid come out and totally come out of his shell and be so comfortable - it was awesome! All of the middle school kids love him and are buddies with him.
I've just been so impressed by these middle schoolers. They are so eager to learn, every week on sundays they share what they are reading in their Bibles and how they are applying it to their lives. I watch as kids help each other as they're going through hard times. These kids are seeing what being a church family is all about. They're getting it at such an early age and I get to be a part of that and I feel so privileged to be where I am.
So thank you to all of you that pour into me, encourage me and pray for me. I want you to know it does not go unnoticed and I appreciate it so much. God is good and He is doing some BIG things in the youth ministry at the Bridge.
We have this boy who is handicapped (I think he has severe autism?) The story I got was that he has been to many youth ministries and has never felt accepted and didn't like it. I guess the Bridge was their last hope. Well, he came out a couple months ago and I have these 2 guys leaders that are just AWESOME with these kids (Brady and Landon) and they just clicked with him and made him feel a part of it. I talked with the boy's dad one time and he told me how much he loves it there and loves those guys. Every week he has a behavioral specialist with him and they let me in on stuff about him. They say how he loves to play knock out, but he never gets involved. He likes to go to the corner and just hang by himself, he's pretty tough to talk to. Tonight, he got out of the car and came running down to the court and was talking to me (HUGE!), then he got right into the games without me having to ask him to play (HUGE!), then we go inside and I ask the kids questions that will lead into my message - he put his hand up. His behavioral specialist mouthed the words to me "OH MY GOSH" - he shared something. She told me that is NOT something people with his disability will do. That is not him at all, but something is happening in him. She was almost crying about it because it was that big of a deal.
That reignited some passion for me. To watch a kid come out and totally come out of his shell and be so comfortable - it was awesome! All of the middle school kids love him and are buddies with him.
I've just been so impressed by these middle schoolers. They are so eager to learn, every week on sundays they share what they are reading in their Bibles and how they are applying it to their lives. I watch as kids help each other as they're going through hard times. These kids are seeing what being a church family is all about. They're getting it at such an early age and I get to be a part of that and I feel so privileged to be where I am.
So thank you to all of you that pour into me, encourage me and pray for me. I want you to know it does not go unnoticed and I appreciate it so much. God is good and He is doing some BIG things in the youth ministry at the Bridge.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Adventures at Highland
Every week I venture into the local junior high to hang with some students. Most of you have kept up with our city's issues with the merging of schools and all that jazz. Phil is over at the high school and loving it. Kids attitudes seem to be great and he's got a great gig over there. I, on the other hand, do not so much have a great gig where I'm at. Every one was all about Anderson high school and focusing all of their energy there, that I think they forgot about highland. EVERY week I go in, I'm either breaking up a fight, or dealing with a bully situation. I face a LOT of negative attitudes - they're directed at me too. But every week, I leave that school, sit in my car and just pray...a couple of times, I just cry. I cry because I hurt for these kids and I feel at such a loss. You know the song "Hosanna", the line in there "break my heart for what breaks yours...EVERYTHING I AM FOR YOUR KINGDOMS CAUSE". I think I caught a glimpse of it today. Every week, I see a glimpse of God's heart breaking for these people. But for once, I caught the second part - everything I am for your kingdoms cause. I exerted all of my energy today, I did all I knew to do and still left hurting for them. I know it won't change immediately, but my goodness, this is a HUGE mission field.
There is this girl, her name is Anna. Pray for Anna. I randomly went to her table at the beginning of the year and she was the meanest person I've probably ever met - she's in 7th grade. She likes to be called the devil and prides herself on that nickname. Every week she cusses at me and tells me to go away and doesn't get why in the world I go in there if I'm not forced to. I told her a few weeks ago that my goal is to get her to smile...today, she smiled. I threw a party for her. I was so excited, she was so angry because she finally broke, but I told her how much joy it gave me to finally see her smile and her response "GO TO HELL".
This is what I deal with week after week. There was almost a fight, I talked with one of the kids today who was really angry to get him to calm down, talked with the dean about it, finally got him calmed down. As I'm leaving, I get a phone call - that kid got in a fight after lunch and is now suspended for 5 days. Guess what I'm doing - hanging out with that kid for one of those 5 days. The deans are starting to look at me as their only hope in the school. This is not to toot a horn - it's to say, WE NEED HELP! If I'm all they got, this is sad. Everything I am for your kingdoms cause. Now I'm going to go into the school and meet with the deans and discuss how I can have a bigger reach and impact in the schools. I don't want to police the lunch room, I do not want to be the disciplinarian, that is not my job. But now I have an opportunity to speak truth into the lives of kids who are constantly being fed lies about who they are. They don't see themselves the way God sees them.
So I guess why I'm writing this - I need your prayers. There is a lot that needs done and I'm only so much, but God is bigger, God is stronger, God is greater and nothing can stop the work that God wants done. I believe after today that I am to be the light in their darkness, to be in their world and empower these kids to be who God made them to be. There is so much that needs prayer at that school that I don't know where to begin. But would you join me in praying for these kids?
There is this girl, her name is Anna. Pray for Anna. I randomly went to her table at the beginning of the year and she was the meanest person I've probably ever met - she's in 7th grade. She likes to be called the devil and prides herself on that nickname. Every week she cusses at me and tells me to go away and doesn't get why in the world I go in there if I'm not forced to. I told her a few weeks ago that my goal is to get her to smile...today, she smiled. I threw a party for her. I was so excited, she was so angry because she finally broke, but I told her how much joy it gave me to finally see her smile and her response "GO TO HELL".
This is what I deal with week after week. There was almost a fight, I talked with one of the kids today who was really angry to get him to calm down, talked with the dean about it, finally got him calmed down. As I'm leaving, I get a phone call - that kid got in a fight after lunch and is now suspended for 5 days. Guess what I'm doing - hanging out with that kid for one of those 5 days. The deans are starting to look at me as their only hope in the school. This is not to toot a horn - it's to say, WE NEED HELP! If I'm all they got, this is sad. Everything I am for your kingdoms cause. Now I'm going to go into the school and meet with the deans and discuss how I can have a bigger reach and impact in the schools. I don't want to police the lunch room, I do not want to be the disciplinarian, that is not my job. But now I have an opportunity to speak truth into the lives of kids who are constantly being fed lies about who they are. They don't see themselves the way God sees them.
So I guess why I'm writing this - I need your prayers. There is a lot that needs done and I'm only so much, but God is bigger, God is stronger, God is greater and nothing can stop the work that God wants done. I believe after today that I am to be the light in their darkness, to be in their world and empower these kids to be who God made them to be. There is so much that needs prayer at that school that I don't know where to begin. But would you join me in praying for these kids?
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